Music-leaf turner.



J. J. MORRIS.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-10.1915.-

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPXI co, WASHINGTON. D. c.

1.]. MORRIS.

MUSIfi LEAF TURNER,

APPLICATION FILED AUG-10. 1915.

1 ,1 76,085 Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. .6?

c A 51mm 121mm THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. J. MORRIS.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. I915- 1 1 76,085 Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH JOHN MORRIS, OF GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed August 10, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH JOHN MORRIS, a naturalized citizen of the United States, residing at Grass Valley, in the county of Nevada and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a music leaf turner, and more particularly to the class of foot operated music leaf turners.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner wherein it can be mounted upon a piano, organ or the like, or a music stand, and is adapted to automatically shift or turn the leaves of the sheet music in successive order, thereby obviating the necessity of the fingering of the sheets of the music for this purpose, and also permitting free use of the hands for the playing of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner of this Cl1211' acter wherein the leaves after having been turned from right to left can be automatically turned back for the repeating of the operation of the music leaf turner, the leaves being turned in successive order from right to left so that each sheet will be accordingly moved for the proper handling thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner of this character wherein the construction thereof is novel in form so that it may be successively operated without inconvenience to the user and with positiveness in action.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner of this character wherein the same can be readily placed upon a piano, organ, or the like, or upon a music rack or stand for the automatic turning of the leaves of music when placed thereon.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, strong, durable, and inexpensive in manufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a fragmen- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916. Serial No. 44,790.

tary front elevation of a piano showing the music leaf turner constructed in accordance with the invention mounted thereon. Fig. 2 1s an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the music leaf turner. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates the case of a piano on which is mounted the music leaf turner hereinafter fully described.

The music leaf turner comprises a base plate 10 which is suitably clamped upon the top of the piano case A medially thereof, and from this base rises spaced upright posts 11 on which is mounted a series of spaced horizontally disposed outwardly bowed or arched guide rails 12 which are held in their spaced relation through the medium of washers 13 surrounds the posts 11 between the said guide rails, while connected to the upper ends of the posts is an upwardly arched bridge bar 14 which is held fast thereon by means of the nuts 15 threaded on the upper end of the post 11 to assure a rigid unitary structure. Fixed in the base plate 10 centrally thereof and spaced rearwardly from the guide rails 12 is a stationary vertical shaft 16 on which are loosely journaled music leaf turning arms 17 of any selected number which extend horizontally between the guide rails 12 for sliding movement thereon, and pivoted to the free ends of these arms are swinging fingers 18, the pivoted ends 19 of which are acted upon by means of leaf springs 20 which serve to hold the same in either horizontal or vertical position, and by reason of the pivotal connection of the fingers 18 with the arms 17 they can be conveniently engaged with the sheets of the music when placed upon and supported by the music rest or rack B on the piano.

Slidably mounted upon the stationary shaft 16 is the circular turntable 21 at one point of the periphery of which rises a vertical trigger 22 formed at its free upper end with laterally extending curved long and short rest wings 23 and 2. respectively, disposed concentrically with respect to the shaft 16 and the inner ends of the leaf turning arms 17, the long wing 23 being disposed in a slightly elevated plane with respect to the short wing 24 so as to provide a shoulder 25 for engaging the respectivemusic leaf turning arms 17 when the trigger 22 is swung from right to left, the said wings limiting the upward sliding movement of the disk 21 supporting the trigger 22, which disk is formed with a hub 26 surrounding the shaft 16 and against which bears one end of a coiled expansion spring 27, the opposite end engaging the base plate 10, and this spring serves to automatically lift the trigger 22 forthe engagement thereof with the respective arms 17 from the bottom to the top of the series thereof. The wing 24' holds the trigger 22 against rising movement after one of the arms has been swung to left or right, while the trigger 24 also cooperates to engage the next arm 17 at the right hand side of themusic leaf turner above the arm previously turned on the reverse swinging of the trigger from left toright so that the said next arm at the right willbe engaged by the shoulder 25 on the trigger, whereby on the turning of the latter from right to left the said arm will: be accordingly turned, the trigger being operated in a manner presently described. 7

At a point rearwardly-of the shaft 17 and upon the base plate 10 is a bearing 28 in which is mounted a. substantially bell crank shaped. lever. 29. having a hook end 30 which is adapted to engage with the disk 26 of the trigger 22 so that on the rocking of the lever 29 the trigger 22 will'be lowered on the shaft 16 against the resistance of the spring 27. for the proper positioning of the trigger relative to the lowermost arm 17 of the series, and this trigger 22is automatically lifted in a step by step manner by the said spring 27 and is controlled in its upward movement by the wings 23 and 24 thereon by sliding engagement with the arms both at the right hand side and left hand side ofthe music leaf turner. Connected to the lever 29 is a pull rod 31 which isalso connectedto a bell crank lever 32 swingingly supportedin, a bracket 33 fixed to the back of the piano caseA, the lever 32 being also connected with a second pull rod 34 which is pivotally connected to the crank 35. of a treadle operated shaft or rod 36, which extends forwardly beneath the bottom of the piano case A and is connected with the operating treadle 37 which when pressed by the footof the user of the music leaf turner will actuatethe bell crank lever 29 for lowering the trigger 22 to bring the same into position relative to the lowermost arm 17 0f the series.

At the left hand side of. the bearing 28 and fixed inthe base plate 10 is a. vertical stud shaft 38 on; which isjournaled a rocking arm 39 to whichare loosely pivoted at opposite sides of the journal 38 supporting the same links 40 having connected thereto a chain 41, the same being fixed intermediate its ends to the disk 26 of the trigger, and also pivoted to the outside end of the rocking lever 39 is a pull rod 42, the same being extended rearwardly from the top of the piano case A and is connected to a bell crank lever 43 pivoted in the bracket 33. and also pivoted with this bell crank lever 43 at the rear of the piano case A is a pull rod 44 which is pivoted to the crank 45 of the pedal operated shaft 46. suitably journaled to the bottom of the piano case A and extended forwardly thereof and is connected with an operating pedal 47 which when depressed by the hand of the user of the music leaf turner will cause the swinging of thetrigger 22 from right to left for the turning of each arm 17 thereof. 'Journaled on the shaft 16 is a reversing frame 48 to the lower horizontal limb 49 of which is connected av chain 50, the same being also connected to the bell crank lever 29 so that when the trigger 22 is. moved upwardly to its fullest extent upon. the shaft 16 after the turning ofiall of the, arms 17' and the said tr1gger22 is lowered by the hook end 30 on the rocking of the lever. 29 the frame 48.

will be swun from left to. right, thereby turning the arm 17 to the right hand side of the music leaf turner for the repeating of the action thereof whereby the arms can be successfully turned from right to left by the trigger 22 when actuated by the foot treadle. The frame 48 is automatically moved from right to left when engaged by the lowermost arm 17 of the series after the said frame has shifted all Ofthe arms 17 from left to right for repeating the operation of the music leaf turner.

It is of course understood that: the music leaf turner can. be mounted upon a port.- able music stand without altering any of itsv essential parts. The device is equally adaptable for use. in turning the leaves of books in contradistinction to sheet music.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with. the accompanying draw-- ings, the construction and manner of operaa trigger slidably and rotatably supported on the shaft, means for lifting the trigger to itshlghest point of movement, means for lowering the trigger to brlng the same into position relative to the lowermost arm,

means on the trigger and coacting withthe arms to position the same in a step by step manner relative to the said arms, and means for actuating the trigger to turn the arms in successive order.

2. In a music leaf turner, a base, a shaft fixed on said base, a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced guide rails supported at an elevation above the base, a plurality of music leaf turning arms loosely journaled on the shaft and movable between the rails, a trigger slidably and rotatably supported on the shaft, means for lifting the trigger to its highest point of movement, means for lowering the trigger to bring the same into position relative to the lowermost arm,

means on the trigger and coacting with the arm to position the same in a step by step manner relative to the said arms, means for actuating the trigger to turn the arms in successive order, and means for acting on the arms when at the left to turn the same in reverse directions simultaneously with each other to the right.

In testimonv whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH JOHN MORRIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. HENNESSY, LEAH T. SHOEMAKER.

Copies 01. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

